Exercising apparatus



Aug. 19, 1969 NAMMEOD 3,462,113 BXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Jan. '2, 1966 2 Shee ts-Shee tl Norma/1 4. M23232 ,4/farney United States Patent 3,462,113 EXERCISING APPARATUS Norman A. MacLeod, 1330 N. Fullerton Road, La Habra, Calif. 90631 Filed Jan. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 519,270 Int. Cl. A63g 9/00 U.S. Cl. 248-387 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to a toy and exerciser for young children and relates more particularly to a jumper and walker.

While the invention has particular utility embodied in an exercising device for children, and is shown and described thus embodied, it is to be understood that its utility is not confined thereto. For example, it can be used as a support in a chair for adults.

There are various factors that must be considered in providing a suitable jumper and/or walker for children. For example, the device should be of light weight. It should have good resilience (bouncing) properties, be safe for children to use, be easily packaged either singly or in quantity, it should have good nesting charactistics, for shipping and storage, require a minimum of assembly, be adjustable to load, occupy a minimum of storage space, be rugged, be extremely simple in construction and use, attractive in appearance, and easy and inexpensive to {manufacture so that the ultimate sales price will be very The present invention embodies these various advantageous characteristics.

A further very important feature of the invention whereby these features and advantages are secured resides in the use of an elongated resilient member which is normally substantially straight but which is forcibly bent to the desired shape for use and restrained in such position. In otherwords the resilient element is restrained in a pre-loaded position for use. Thus it is possible to obtain .the maximum resilient response to additional loading as with the weight of a child.

Such pre-loaded resilient element does not have to be as heavy as it would be if it were bent into position without being loaded. That is, without pre-loading the resilient member, when formed into shape for use, must be heavier with a consequent loss of resilient response to additional loading as by a childs weight and movement.

Also, the restraining means of the invention may be used in vairous ways and with various adjustments to meet various conditions of use. For example, one arrangement of the restraining means combines a flexible, inextensible part such as a chain, and a resilient part, such as a coil spring in series therewith. The spring is adapted to be attached to various links of the chain to vary the force of the spring on the elongated element. A part of the chain is slack and provides a positive limiting action on expansion of the elongated element as a safety factor.

Also, either the chain alone may be used or the spring may be used alone. Further there may be a plurality of 3,462,113 Patented Aug. 19, 1969 ice restraining means especially where there are a plurality of elongated elements used.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufliciently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings which represent certain embodiments. After considering these examples, skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed and I contemplate the employment of any structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a toy and exercising device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the resilient strip of metal comprising the resilient support of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an alternative arrangement thereof;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another alternative arrangement FIG. -6 is a top plan schematic view of still another alternative arrangement;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6';

FIG. 8 is a top plan schematic view of another alternative arrangement;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of another arrangement ment of the expansion limiting means or chain; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a snap hook for use in attaching the spring or springs to the chain or chains.

Refer-ring more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is diagrammatically shown a jumper having a base 10 of substantial area to stabilize the apparatus and prevent its tipping over or upsetting when being used. This base may be of any suitable material, such as wood, for example.

The elongated resilient supporting element or strip, indicated generally at 12, comprises a flat strip of suitable resilient material such as spring steel for example. There is an end part 14 that is formed with a longitudinally extending central rib 16 defining a channel 17 said rib rendering the end part 14 rigid and also providing space in the channel 17, for a nut 18, FIG. 2 of an eye bolt 20, the shank 22 of said eye bolt extending through a hole 24 provided therefor in the top of the rib 16 of the end part 14.

Channeled part 14 of the flat strip or element 12 is secured to the base by suitable means such as screws 26, for example, which are received in holes provided therefor in the ribbed part 14 of said element.

A length or end part 28 of the strip 12 at the end opposite from the ribbed part 14 is similarly provided with a rib 30 and is secured to the under side of a seat 32 which may be of any suitable material or character, being shown as a suitably shaped piece of wood, although it could be of othenmaterial or otherwise formed. Screws or other suitable means, not shown, are used to secure the seat to the end part 28. That part of the strip 12 intermediate the inner ends of the ribbed parts 16 and 30 is indicated at 34 and is resilient and'adapted to resiliently and bouncingly support a user of the apparatus, such as a child.

Handle means, indicated generally at 37, is provided so that the child can easily maintain himself on the seat, said means comprising a handle assembly simulating a jet aeroplane. There is a body 38 which is formed of suitable material, such as plywood for example, there being a notch 38a in the rear of the body in which a forward projecting part 32a of the seat is received and secured by screws or the like, not shown. The body is comparatively fiat and in a plane normal to the plane of the seat.

There are oppositely extending wings 39 which have hand holes 3% in which the child may insert his hands and grip the parts 39b at the rear of the holes 3%1.

The handle means may, of course, be of other appearance and construction, the handle means shown being merely one arrangement that may be used.

The elongated element 12 is forcibly bent against its inherent resiliency in the general shape or form of a U resting or lying on one side or arm and there is means for restraining the arms of the element 12 when in the U-shape and limiting its expansion or straightening into its normal substantially straight condition. The restraining means includes an inextensible, flexible chain, indicated generally at 48 and a spring 50. One end link of the chain is attached to the eye bolt 20 and one end of a spring 50 is hooked or otherwise suitably secured to an intermediate link of the chain while the other end of said spring is secured or hooked to an eye bolt, not shown, secured to the channeled part 30 of the strip 12 beneath the seat 32. This eye bolt is similar to eye bolt 20 and is secured to the channeled part 30 of the strip 12 in a similar manner. The portion of the chain between the eye bolt 20 and the spring 50 is indicated at 52 and the remaining portion of said chain .is indicated at 54, the upper end of said chain being secured to the channeled part 30 by an eye bolt arrangement similar to the eye bolt 20. The snap hooks 50a best shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, may be secured to the chain and said snap hook will prevent any inadvertant separation of the spring or chain.

Chain portion 52 and the spring 50 restrain the element 12 and prevent it from straightening out thereby maintaining said element in a preloaded condition, it being understood that the spring 50 is of suflicient strength to thus function.

The part 54 of the chain 48 normally has some slack to permit proper functioning of the element 12 when a child is bouncing but positively limits expansion or straightening movement of said element to prevent the child being thrown from the device. In other words, the chain serves as a safety factor and positively prevents the strip 12 expanding beyond the length of the chain but permits proper bouncing action.

Since the lower end of the spring 50 may be hooked to various links of the chain the restraining means is adjustable.

Thus it will be apparent that the straight resilient or spring element 12 is held in a curved Shape by flexible and resilient restraining means in which a part of the restraining means is inextensible and of adjustable length thereby allowing the resilient portion to put more or less tension in the curved partial hoop shaped preloaded spring element 12.

More particularly, the inextensible part comprises the chain 48 although other means may be used, such as a flexible cable or the like. The appropriate end, of the spring 50, the lower end as shown, is attached to a desired link so that any desired load may be placed on the spring. This load must be exceeded to produce movement of the spring.

Thus, for example if a 50 pound bending stress is imposed by a certain effective length of chain only then a 40 pound child will only lighten the tension on the chain to pounds and will not cause the resilient element 12 to move. However, if a 50 pound child is placed on the seat while there is only a 40 pound bending stress of the resilient element 12, the spring or resilient element will move under the 50 pound weight of the child and the chain will be slackened. The baby can then give a swinging action to the seat by its own bouncing movements.

The restraint means is not only flexible, but also as with a chain, for example, resiliently extensible. It may be a spring or a spring and a chain in series. In such case, the extension of the spring restraint (usually a coiled spiral spring) establishes an equilibrium position with the curved resilient element, assuming of course the coiled spring is not elastically deformed in restraining the hoop spring member or resilient element. Placing a child in the seat will immediately cause a partial release of tension in the restraining coil spring equal to the weight of the child or more, since as in FIG. 5 the seat acts as a torque about the hoop coil as the fulcrum. Thus a child will be able to bounce with such a device. The feet of the child can be caused to reach the floor by decreasing the length of the chain portion under tension and thereby increasing the tension in the spring.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a resilient element 12 which is formed in a partially bent shape. However with this arrangement the element 12 is further bent and the arms restrained for the operable position.

In FIG. 5 there is shown an arrangement having a plurality, two, resilient elements which are resilient steel rods or steel wire and are indicated at 60.

An upper yoke 62 is provided which may be of any suitable material such as aluminum for example and this yoke has a plurality of bores 64- extending laterally of the yoke from its rear edge. Forward end portions of the elements 60 are disposed in the outer bores 64 and the fit may be snug enough to frictionally retain these end portions in their respective bores 64.

There is a lower yoke 66 adapted to rest on the floor or other supporting surface and said yoke 66 has bores 68 extending forwardly from the rear edge thereof similarly to the bores 64, portions of the ends of the elements 60 opposite the ends in the bores 64 are installed in the outermost bores 68.

There are a pair of bores, indicated at 70, in the forward edge of the yoke 62 and adjacent the ends thereof. These bores 70 are for reception of end portions of a U-shaped frame 72 which extends forwardly of the yoke 62 and has disposed thereon a seat 74 of canvas, plastic or other suitable material. The seat 74 depends from the frame 72 and has a pair of openings 76 at the front for reception of the legs of a child sitting in said seat. The child would, of course, be facing forwardly.

A stabilizing frame 78 is provided forwardly of the lower yoke 66 and is formed of a tube, for example, having free end portions secured in bores 80 extending rearwardly from the front edge of the lower yoke and adjacent the ends thereof. Stabilizing frame 78 describes a configuration of suflicient size to prevent the device from tipping or upsetting. The frame 78 may be of any desired shape or configuration.

There are a plurality of restraining means in the embodiment of FIG. 5 which are similar and each comprises a chain 82 and a spring 84. A description of one of these restraining means will therefore suffice.

As shown, the lower end of the chain 82 is attached to a hook or eye bolt 86 screwed into a tapped bore in the top side of the lower yoke. The upper end of the chain is similarly secured to a hook or eye bolt, not shown, similar to the hook or eye bolt 86.

Spring 84 has its upper end secured to a hook or eye bolt, not shown, such as the eye bolt 86. The lower end of spring 84 is hooked or otherwise secured to an intermediate link of the chain 82.

The spring 84 is hooked in a link so as to provide such tension as is desired in view of the weight of the child using the device. As shown in FIG. 5 there is an upper portion of the chain that is slack and the restraining means of this embodiment is similar in operation to that of the arrangement of FIG. 1 except that there are two such restraining means in FIG. .5. Also, the device works in a manner similar to that of the FIG. 1 embodiment. i

In the FIG. 5 embodiment the springs can be so located 1 on the chain as to provide such tension that the childs weight will allow its feet to touch the floor thus enabling the child in a pre-walking stage to obtain exercise for his legs by the bouncing excercise in which he will naturally engage.

In FIG. the front transverse cross piece 78a is raised above the floor surface and the upwardly and forwardly curved portions 78b connecting the ends of the cross piece 78a with the forward ends of the side portions 78c so that the device may be used as a walker the portions 78b enabling the device to be moved forwardly by the child.

When used as a walker the spring tension can be eliminated and a chain restraint, as in FIG. 10, is used. The chain, indicated at 90, is connected at the bottom to an eye bolt 86 in the lower yoke 66 and anupper link attached to a hook 92 screwed into a tapped bore in the upper yoke. The effective length of the chain is thus adjustable and is adjusted so that the childs feet will make full contact with the floor and he can be in a standing position, using the seat mainly as a balancing medium. This will be of use in the first stages of learning to walk. In the later stages of learning to walk the flexible canvas seat can be removed leaving only the seat frame 72 as a hand hold to balance while walking. With such a technique the child will be spared many falls and tumbles normally associated with the walking process.

In FIG. 6 the device comprises a base frame 98 and a seat frame 100 of smaller size. The respective ends of the base frame 98 and the seat frame 100 are connected together by a pair of resilient elements 102 and if desired a reinforcing member 104 may be welded to the adjacent ends of the base frame and a reinforcing member 106 may be welded to the inner ends of the seat frame 100.

As shown in FIG. 6 the base and seat frames and the resilient elements 102 may be of a continuous rod or wire or the like of suitable resilient qualities. Of course, the base frame and the seat frame could be of rigid tubing, such as aluminum tubing, and inner end portions of these frames secured in the ends of the tubing.

The rod or wire of the device of FIG. 6 is solid, as shown in FIG. 7. It has been found that a device made of /s" steel wire and capable of supporting an average child up to 1 year of age will weigh less than 1 pound. In this device there would, of course, be suitable restraining means used with the device bent into a general U- shape.

The device may, of course, be coated with plastic which would prevent the metal from marking or marring the surface on which the device is being used.

It is also to be understood that the device may be formed or made not only of spring steel but of any other suitable resilient material as, for example, fiber glass reinforced plastic, that is, plastic reinforced with fiber glass.

The arrangement shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is formed of resilient strip steel or other suitable resilient material. The base frame 110 comprises a closed loop or other configuration. The free end of the base frame is welded apparent that various changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages, the arrangement hereinbefore described being merely by way of example, and I do not wish to be restricted to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned except as defined in the accompanying claim, wherein various portions have been separated for clarity of reading and not for emphasis.

I claim:

1. In a toy and exerciser for children:

(A) an elongated normally substantially straight element having a part at least that is resilient, said element being curved in a generally U-shape so as to be preloaded;

('B) restraining means limiting straightening movement of said element but permitting the arms thereof to be moved toward each other and back toward the limited position;

(C) a stabilizing base at one end of said resilient element;

(-D) seat means carried by said resilient element at the opposite end thereof;

(E) said normally straight element comprising a spring;

(F) said restraining means comprising a part that is flexible and inextensible, and a resilient part; and

(G) the resilient part of the restraining means and the inextensible part being adjustable relative to each other so that the tension of the resilient part is variable for varying the tension in the curved spring element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 67,153 7/1867 Ashe 248-387 XR 2,898,107 8/1959 Varnum 248-387 XR 1,026,215 5/1912 Korth 272-68 1,204,645 11/1916 Boardman 124-7 1,553,520 9/ 1925 Daugherty 272-55 XR 1,624,986 4/1927 Sherrod 272-52 2,956,616 10/ 1960 Labusky et al 272-1 XR RICHARD C. PINKI-IAM, Primary Examiner PAUL E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

